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GARRIOCH: Bobby Ryan says youth pushing Senators to stay in race

Colin White #36 of the Ottawa Senators celebrates his second period power-play goal against the Montreal Canadiens with teammate Mike McKenna #33 on Thursday.Photo: Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photo

Bruce Garrioch

Published: December 6, 2018 - 11:36 PM

The Ottawa Senators promised they’d give the kids a chance this season.

Before the puck was dropped Thursday night at the Canadian Tire Centre, Bobby Ryan was saying how much he’s liked what he’s seen from the Ottawa’s young players this season.

Sitting six points out of a playoff spot after a 5-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens, the job just got a little tougher as the veteran winger left with an undisclosed upper body injury following a first period collision with Montreal’s Brett Kulak.

And, if that wasn’t enough, the Senators also lost Matt centre Duchene in the second with a lower body injury. Neither player returned. As Ryan noted, the kids have done a good job shouldering the load and trying to defy finishing last.

Phillip Danault of the Montreal Canadiens battles for the puck against Drake Batherson of the Ottawa Senators as Christian Jaros and Craig Anderson of the Ottawa Senators defend the net in the first period on Thursday.

“We’ve used that as motivation a little bit,” Ryan said Thursday morning. “Our goal is every night, we haven’t talked about being .500, but I think if we can claw back to being that number then we can go from there.

“We’ve been able to (compete) because I think we’ve been a little deeper than people expected. We’ve got lines that can score and we’ve found ways to generate offence. If we can cut down on that 40-range (of giving up shots) and get into the 30-range, it’s not only going to help (Craig Anderson), it’s going to help us.”

Of course, the injuries won’t help.

Ryan said the emergence of the young players like Brady Tkachuk, Colin White, Drake Batherson, Thomas Chabot, Christian Jaros and Maxime Lajoie has been key.

“There’s a lot to be excited about if you’re a Sens’ fan going forward. That much is evident with those guys,” Ryan said. “The way that Tkachuk plays, he’s right on that edge every game, and that’s kind of energetic for the rest of us. It helps with your enthusiasm.

Colin White of the Ottawa Senators battles for position against Mike Reilly of the Montreal Canadiens as Ben Harpur of the Ottawa Senators holds off Brendan Gallagher of the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday.

“You see a 19-year-old kid going out there and battling every time it kind of spurs through everybody. (The kids) are having success because they play the right way and they work. You don’t have to baby or coddle them because they work for it. That’s refreshing.”

From what Ryan has seen, the youngsters learning on the job just need time.

“For me, it was the 75- or 100-game mark (in his career) where things slowed down and it’s actually because it slows down, but it’s harder because you have to find a way to keep your adrenaline,” Ryan said.

“You’re not running on the rookie fumes anymore, you’re running on experience at that point. That’s a battle they’re going to have to face at that point but it seems like the game has come to those guys a lot faster than it has to others. They’re making plays in spaces that, when I was young, I just didn’t make.

“I just tried to chip the puck and go get it. They’re making plays in those spaces and they’re mature beyond their years in those areas.”

TALKS ARE INCREASINGTrade talk is finally heating up around the National Hockey League.

No, it won’t really hit a fever pitch until a couple of weeks before the Feb. 25 trade deadline, but a check with a couple of league executives by Postmedia on Thursday indicated there has been more activity on the phone lines in recent weeks.

With the contenders starting to separate themselves from the pretenders and the holiday roster freeze set for midnight Dec. 19, NHL general managers are starting to focus more on making deals with time ticking away on the regular season.

While newly appointed Philadelphia Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher is expected to be active once he has time to get a full look at the organization, he might not be the only league executive active.

The indications are general managers in Los Angeles. St. Louis, Chicago, Vancouver and New Jersey have also been working the phones with their teams in a difficult position to make the playoffs and lots of racetrack left.

“There’s no question the amount of activity has picked up lately,” a league executive said. “It’s not a deadline, but there will be some teams that are thinking if we’re going to do something then let’s just get it done before the roster freeze.”

The Senators haven’t determined what route they’re going to take before the deadline with the club in a rebuild and there are a lot of factors which will go a long way in determining the next move.

General manager Pierre Dorion spent the last couple of days huddled with members of the club’s pro scouting staff in Ottawa. Yes, these meetings were planned, but not many wouldn’t have picked the Senators to be in the playoff picture.

Yes, Dorion will have decisions to make and he has been actively working the phones, but the focus is on trying to get veteran forwards Matt Duchene and Mark Stone under contract before they become unrestricted free agents on July 1.

GOOD CHANCE FOR NORRISAcquired in the deal that sent Erik Karlsson to the San Jose Sharks, prospect Josh Norris from the University of Michigan was invited to play for Team USA at the world junior championships in Victoria.

He had three assists in seven games last year at the tourney and will get a chance to be the club’s second-line centre behind top prospect Jack Hughes.

“(Norris) should be able to make a huge impact,” TSN director of scouting Craig Button said. “He’s a returning player and he can do so many different things in the game. He can be on the power play, he can kill penalties and he’s a really good two-way centre.

“He can be so good 5-on-5, a playmaker and shooter. Josh has always had the abilities, but he’s getting stronger and as he’s getting stronger he can do more. You’re seeing a player gain confidence. I expect he’ll be a really significant player.”

The 19-year-old Norris has 9-8-17 points in 15 games with the Wolverines.